AGC Urges Senate to Debate Comprehensive Immigration Reform

May 23, 2007

Dear Senator:

The Associated General Contractors is the largest and oldest commercial construction trade association.  Construction employs more than 7 million people in this country and the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that construction employment will add 180,000 net new workers annually. The immigration legislation currently before the Senate will have a significant impact on how our members hire and fire, who they can hire and fire, and how long they can keep workers that they hire, train and employ.

AGC has significant concerns about a number of provisions in this bill, but we understand that it is a true compromise that reflects the political tensions that exist today. We understand that any future action on this legislation requires that certain core principles be preserved.  The fact that the Senate is able to consider this compromise legislation at all is a significant step in the process and should continue.

AGC sees this legislation as an opportunity to secure the border, to carefully document who is inside the borders already and create a mechanism for our members to accurately and reliably verify the legal employment status of both applicants and current employees. It will preempt the patchwork of state and local laws that have sprouted up because of Congressional inaction on immigration. It will create a legal framework to address the future flow of workers into the country and some of them may find their way into our industry if they will work safely and competently.  

Please continue the careful debate on this compromise legislation. I encourage you to oppose efforts that would scuttle the bipartisan compromise and embrace opportunities to improve this legislation to assist our industry’s need to legally fill the 180,000 net new job openings that we confront annually.

Sincerely,

Stephen E. Sandherr
Chief Executive Officer